Dr Jitendra hosts get-together for Arunachal students

Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Oct 3: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today hosted a get-together for a group of students from Arunachal Pradesh, currently on a visit to the union capital.
In an informal interaction lasting over one hour, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Arunachal Pradesh has a special significance for India and also for the North-Eastern region, not only because of its exclusive scenic beauty but also because of its critical geographical and strategic location. He said, right from the days of the China attack in 1962, when the area was known as “NEFA” (North-Eastern Frontier Agency), the people of the State have constantly resisted foreign hostilities with an unrelenting patriotic commitment, which has now become a part of their inherent built-up and DNA.
Dr Jitendra Singh complimented the youth of Arunachal Pradesh who have, in spite of several constraints and difficulties,excelled in different fields of activity and made a name for themselves across the country. He said, for the success of the Modi Government’s “Act East” policy also, Arunachal Pradesh holds a special significance because it is from this region and the products grown from here, with which a successful trade is possible with the countries across the eastern borders. Enumerating various initiatives taken by the Ministry of Northeast (DoNER) and the Modi government in the last three years, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that when the present government took over in 2014, the people of Arunachal Pradesh had not seen a train and the State did not figure on the rail map of India. But soon a fast-track initiative was launched and now it is expected that within next few years, there will be a double gauge rail track.
On account of the negligence during the past decades, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the scenic beauty of the Arunachal Pradesh had never been exploited and for this, the Modi government has decided to set up a “Film & Television Institute” in the State on the pattern of the Pune Film & Television Institute. Not only this, he said, for the last seven decades, there was not a single airport in the State and with the efforts of the DoNER Ministry, in collaboration with the State Government, land has now been identified near Itanagar to set up the first-ever airport in the State.
The visiting students, mostly in the age group of 16 to 22, presented Dr Jitendra Singh an indigenously made clay idol of goddess Lakshmi, which they had prepared on the eve of the upcoming festival of Deepavali. Referring to it as “Arunachal Lakshmi”, Dr Jitendra Singh said, this is also a symbol of “Make in Arunachal Pradesh” initiative, with overtones of both national integration as well as economic growth.
Tarun Vijay, former MP and journalist, who also accompanied the students, hoped that the “Arunachal Lakshmi” idol prepared by these youngsters will bring a good omen for the coming Deepavali.